Scots display staying power to boost tourist industry against all the odds

The following is an excerpt from the article published in The Scotmans on 29 September, 2009.

To read the full article click here.

Scots display staying power to boost tourist industry against all the odds

SCOTLAND'S tourism industry is set to withstand the impact of the recession – thanks to the UK's "staycation" market and the Year of Homecoming.

A successful summer for hundreds of hotels, guesthouses, caravan parks and self-catering cottages has helped the nation beat the threat of the downturn. The number of trips booked by UK visitors is said to be up 3.7 per cent on last year, with many holidaymakers shunning overseas trips due to poor exchange rates and worries over the security of airline companies...

Matthew Haggis, vice-chair of the Association of Self Caterers in Scotland, said: "People have definitely been looking for better-value holidays this year, and although the picture is mixed across the country, the majority of our members have had a better year in 2009 than last year."